Vriesea plant named ‘Electric’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Vriesea  sp. plant named ‘ELECTRIC’, characterized as a funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 cm to 50 cm in total height (when flowering) and about 50 cm in diameter; yellow-orange (RHS 14B) in color, with orange-red bract margins (RHS 33A),bipinate spike inflorescence, measuring about 30 cm to 35 cm in height and about 15 cm in diameter; about 7 to 9 branches; and green (RHS 137A) foliage, measuring about 30 cm in length and about 3.5 cm to 4.0 cm in width.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vriesea sp.

Variety denomination: ‘ELECTRIC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vriesea plant, botanically known as Vriesea sp., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘ELECTRIC’. The genus of Vriesea belongs to the Bromeliaceae family.

The new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D.M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Vriesea variety with good growing habit and attractive inflorescence.

The new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ originated from a cross-made in a controlled breeding program by the inventors in 1994 in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Vriesea hybrid designated ‘91233’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Vriesea hybrid designated ‘91209’ (unpatented). ‘ELECTRIC’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in November of 1997, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ performed by vegetative means by tissue culture was first performed in 2004, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The first ‘ELECTRIC’ plants propagated through the use of tissue culture flowered in 2008, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘ELECTRIC’ which in combination distinguish this Vriesea as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 cm to 50 cm in         total height (when flowering) and about 50 cm in diameter;     -   2. Compound, yellow-orange (RHS 14B) to orange-red (RHS 33A) in         color, bipinate spike inflorescence, measuring about 30 cm to 35         cm in height and about 15 cm in diameter;     -   3. About 7 to 9 branches; and     -   4. Green foliage RHS 137A , measuring about 30 cm in length and         about 3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.

Plants of the parents, ‘91233’ (unpatented) and ‘91209’ (unpatented) are no longer available to provide a botanical comparison with the new Vriesea cultivar ‘ELECTRIC’.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ is the Vriesea ‘STYLE’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,176). Plants of the new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ differ from plants of Vriesea ‘STYLE’ primarily in inflorescence color. Plants of ‘ELECTRIC’ produce yellow-orange (RHS 14B) to orange-red (RHS 33A) inflorescence, whereas plants of ‘STYLE’ produce red inflorescence (closest to RHS 46A).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘ELECTRIC’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘ELECTRIC’ at about 17 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up side view perspective of the inflorescence of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘ELECTRIC’ at about 17 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘ELECTRIC’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Vriesea ‘ELECTRIC’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘ELECTRIC’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted, but plants of ‘ELECTRIC’ are forced into flowering by adding acetylene. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of ‘ELECTRIC’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘ELECTRIC’ described is about 17 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Vriesea sp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Vriesea hybrid designated ‘91233’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Vriesea hybrid designated ‘91209’ (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 40 cm to 50 cm             (when flowering). Width: About 50 cm. Shape: Funnel form             rosette.         -   Growth habit.—Stemless.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Flowering season.—A fully grown plant can flower year round,             starting 15-17 weeks after induction of natural light or             trough flowering treatment.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity.—About 20 to 25.         -   Size of mature leaf.—Length: About 30 cm. Width: About 3.5             cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Linear-lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Abruptly acuminate.         -   Base shape.—Strap-like around central axis.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Color.—Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing             conditions. Upper surface: Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137A. Lower surface: Mature leaf:             Green, RHS 137B. Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.         -   Venation.—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Quantity and form.—1 flower per floral bract, typical for             the genus Vriesea; flowering is normally in progression from             base to tip of scape.         -   Shape.—Bipinate spike (main spike about 16 cm in length and             about 7.5 cm in width; side spike about 14 cm in length and             about 5.5 cm in width).         -   Size.—Height: About 30 cm to 40 cm. Diameter: About 15 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-orange, RHS 14B, with orange-red bract             margins, RHS 33A         -   Corolla.—Form: Long and narrow, petals and sepals fused at             the base around the ovary. Number: About 90 to 100 depending             on the size of plant.         -   Petals.—Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 5.0 cm. Width:             About 0.9 cm. Overall Shape: Ligulate. Apex Shape: Obtuse.             Base Shape: Fused. Color: Upper surface: Yellow, closest to             RHS 6C. Lower surface: Yellow, closest to RHS 6C. Sepals:             Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 3.0 cm. Width: About             0.9 cm. Overall Shape: Ligulate. Apex Shape: Acute. Base             Shape: Fused. Color: Yellow, closest to RHS 7A. Branches:             Quantity: About 7 to 9. Length: About 10 cm to 14 cm. Width:             About 5.5 cm. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 14B, with orange-red             bract margins, RHA 33A. Bracts: Quantity of bracts on main             spike: About 20. Arrangement: Alternate. Size: Length: About             4.5 cm to 5.0 cm. Width: About 3.0 cm. Overall shape: Ovate.             Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 14B, with orange-red bract             margins, RHS 33A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 6 per flower. Length: About             5.0 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Yellow, closest to             RHS 11C. Anther: Length: About 0.6 cm. Color: Yellow,             closest to RHS 11C. Pollen: Amount: Too small to count.             Color: Yellow.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: 1 per flower. Length: About             6.0 cm. Stigma: Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 0.4 cm. Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Style: Length: About 5.5 cm. Color:             Yellow, RHS 11D. Ovary: Shape: Conical. Length: About             0.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Yellow, RHS 11D. -   Seeds: None produced. -   Fruit: None produced. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available. 

1. A new and distinct Vriesea sp. plant named ‘ELECTRIC’, as illustrated and described herein. 